California Drought Improves; 2015 Warmest Year on Record – 1/21/16

By Ed Joyce – Recent storms have brought more improvement, however slight, in the historic four-year drought in California over the past week.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says the percentage of severe and extreme drought was reduced in extreme northwestern California and southwestern and south-central Oregon.

“This doesn’t mean the region is drought free by any means, but it’s certainly a good start to the Water Year as we sit near the mid-point of the snow season,” according to the weekly update. “Now we’ll see if Mother Nature finishes strong or changes her mind.”